Trim panel



June 12, 1945. 2,377,998

TRIM PANEL Original Filed July 29, 1940 FIGI'. IO

I7 I Z '4 1/1 r /\2 J //3e 37 42 35 40 T L g 4 43 45 INVENTOR.

EDWARD R.DETRIVCK- ATTORNEYS Patented June 12, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE:

TRIM PANEL Edward R; Detrick, Detroit, Mich., assignor NationalAutomotive Fibres, 1:10.,

to Detroit,

Mich, a corporation of Delaware Original application July 29, 1940;Serial No.

348,291. Divided and thisapplication September 27,1943, Serial No.503,994

9Claims.

fabric, which may then be applied to trimpariels or other interiorportions of the vehicle' -However, the sewed seam between thetwodifferent fabrics presented an unattractive appearance, and efforts weremade to conceal this seam. 7 One manner of concealing the seam wastoprovide a metal molding strip which was tacked through the fabric tothe panel board and was intended to overlie and conceal the seam.Obviously the seam had to be perfectly straight,- and whilethere was nodifliculty in sewing straight seams, theiapplication of the compositefabric to the panel board had mine carried out with extreme 'care, sothat the seam could be coveredby anarrow strip of molding metal, t

According to the present inventionytwdpieces of fabric which are to beunited for a composite interior trim fabric are connected by meansof ananchorage strip of a, particular design, as will subsequently be pointedout. As a result, this strip insures that the seam or line o .ilncturebetween the pieces of fabric Willbe straight both before and afterthe composite fabric has been applied to the panel board. 1 j I Inaddition, this anchorage strip serves as a reinforcing means for thepanel, so thatby employing my improved construction it ispossible tousea lighter andtherefore less expensive foundation panel board. i

A number of different efi'ectsmay be obtained by slightly modified formsof anchorage strip, however at the present timeit is suificienttomention that by employing my improvedanchorage strip, it is possible toobtain the effect of amold ing strip. It is further possibl to obtainahead or riser intermediate two pieces of fabric which is covered witha, different contrasting or harmonizing material. 7 a.

It may also be pointed out that, if desired, the anchorag strip may becurved to anysd'esired' configurationsoas to obtain different decorativedesigns.

With the foregoing, generalremarks.inmind it 5 is anobjectof the presentinvention to provide two-tone trim panels of novel characteristics;

It isa further object of the invention to providenovel means forsecuringtwo pieces of fabric together. It afurther object of theinvention to provide trim panels characterized by the provision ofcontrasting or harmonizing fabrics in conjunction withan anchorage striphaving an exposedriser ofnoveldesign. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide a trim panel providedwith reinforcing anchorage strips, which also were utilized to interlockadjacent pieces of trim fabric.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fabrichaving a stiff bead permanently united to one edge thereof along a linewhich may be straight orof predetermined'curvature.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the descriptionproceeds; and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,

wherein:

1 Figure I is a front elevation of a trim panel illustrating thepossible design which may be obtained by the present'invention;

Figure 2 is asection on the line 2-2; Figure 1;

Figure 3'is a front elevation illustrating a somewhat different specificdesign of trim panel;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 1. a

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, Ihave illustrated generally at I0 anupholstered trim panel comprising a panel board I I, padding materiall2, trim fabrics I 3, I4 and I5, and metallic locking strip Hi.

It. will be understood that the padding material l2" may be of anydesired ,type. The foundation panel board H may b an asphalt board 01''a panel boardsold under the trade name Masonite. The padding material l2may be wadding of a suitable type, or it may be loosely aggregatedcottonjute, or other fibrous material. The purpose of the paddingmaterial is to give an appearance of richness to the completedpanelwhich is other- Wise not obtained.

Panels of this, type are adapted to be secured to doors of vehicles andit is to be understood that while-l. have illustrated my inventionasapplied to a trim panel for attachment to a. door,

the invention is notthus limited. The invention may-beapplled to otherpanels, and in fact, as

will be obvious, its application is more or less general. Thus it may beused for decorative of course, be chromium plated or otherwise treatedto present an attractive appearance.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated a somewhat different design for thepurpose of indicating the flexibility of the present invention. In thiscase the trim panel indicated generally at 20 maybe covered with acomposite trim fabric comprising an upper portion 2|, which may be of adefinite color, and a lower portion 22 which may be of a harmonizing orcontrasting color. The pieces 2I and 22 are secured'together alon theline 23,

and a metallic strip of the type disclosed herein is employed.Intermediate the lower portion 22 I provide a decorative fabric insert24 which may be of the same color as the upper portion 2 I, or of adifferent harmonizing or' contrasting color. The lines of conjuncture25, between the insert 24 and the fabric 22, are formed by metallicstrips such as I6 or by strips similar to that illustrated in Figure 4.

It may be stated at this time that while the invention is most readilypracticed in a manner to provide straight-line seams of theconjunctures, it need'not be limited thereto, and it is within thecontemplation of the present invention that the metallic strip may becurved transversely'to provide curved or irregular lines of conjuncturesbetween the various pieces of fabric.

Referring now to Figure 4, I have indicated in section an anchoragestrip 30 which is made of a light bendable metal. I have found thatexcellent results are obtained where these strips are formed of brass,but it is obvious that any suitable material may be employed. I preferto employ metal, but it is entirely possible that other materials, suchfor example as suitable resins, might be employed. Thus, for example,resins might be formed to the same shape as the metallic strips, and theinterlock between the fabrics and the stripscould be obtained by theapplication of heat to the resin strips.

11 have found that where brass is employed as the material from whichthe strips 30 are formed, best results are obtained when the strip isbetween .010 and .015 inch in thickness. Obviously the thickness of thestrip is not critical, and will be selected with well-known practice andin accordance with the specific material employed.

As previously stated, by employing my improved metal anchorage strip, itis possible to use a lighter gauge panel board II, for the reason thatthe metal strip 30 serves as a reinforcin means which strengthens andlends certain rigidity to the panel board. It will be understood, ofcourse, that the light gauge strips 30 are not themselves extremelyrigid and will conform to the curvature of the panel board when the sameis required to assume a curvature during its application.

As illustrated in Figure 4 the metal strip 30 has a centrally disposedlongitudinally extending raised hollow bead or riser 3| and is providedat opposite longitudinal side edges thereof with return bent flanges 32and 33 respectively. Covfolded strips.

ering the bead 3| and conforming in shape thereto is a sheet 34 formedfrom plastic material and having flanges 35 and 36 respectively betweenthe base 31 of the strip 30 and the return bent flanges 32- and 33thereof. The fabrics 38 and 39 extend over the flanges 32 and 33 of thestrip and have inturned or folded edge portions 40 and M clamped betweenthe flanges 32, 33 of the strip and the flanges 35, 36 of the covering34.

If desired, tangs 42 and 43 may be struck out from the flanges 32 and 33of the strip to pierce and hold the inturned edge portions 40 and M ofthe fabrics 38 and 39 against displacement relative to the strip. Alsosuitable fastening elements such as the staples 45 and 46 may extendthrough the flanges 32, 33 of the strip, inturned edge portions 40, 4|of the fabrics, flanges 35, 36 of the covering, and the base 31 of thestrip for engagement with the panel board II to hold the parts inassembled relation. In this connection it will be noted that the tangs42, 43 and staples 45, 46 are beneath and concealed by the fabrics 38and 39.'

As is well-known, plastics suitable for the covering 34 may be obtainedin a wide variety of colors, hence this arrangement enables amanufacturer to produce any desired harmony or contrast between thecovering, beads and trim fabrics.

The metallic strips previously described may be very cheaply constructedand the metal employed in them is, of course, very inexpensive. As aresult, the matelial going to make up the trim panel is no moreexpensive than present day constructions which lack the flexibility ofdesign in the present construction. In addition, the present strips lendthemselves to very rapid assembly and do not require highly skilledlabor. As a result, the labor costs of assembling the completed panelsis no more expensive than present less attractive panels, and is in factconsiderably less expensive than present types of assembly which obtainanything like equivalent results.

Reference was previously made to the fact that instead of employingmetallic strips, strips of other material could be employed. Byemploying metallic strips the interlock formed by the tanks 42, 43 isexceptionally eflicient, but in its broader aspects, the invention neednot be practiced with metallic strips. If a strip of resinous materialor adhesive coated, bendable cardboard were employed, it would still bepossible to obtain perfectly straight seams having straight foldededges, which is very desirable in this type of construction. If thestrips were formed of resinous material, the sealing bond could beobtained by the application of heat to the fabric overlying the Ifadhesive were employed, it would be necessary only to apply suflicientpressure to cause initial setting of the adhesive.

It may also be mentioned that rubber may be employed as the lockingmedium. Thus, for example, the strips may be formed of any suitablematerial and provided with thin unvulcanized rubber coatings, orprovided with a film of vulcanizing latex. The final assembly of theoperation would then include the applicationof heat and pressure tovulcanize the rubber, thus forming a perfect bond between the strips andfabrics.

' What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a trim structure, a foundation member, a metal strip having a baseanchored on said member and having return bent flanges at oppositelongitudinal edges thereof, the base of said strip being providedbetween said flanges with a raised bead, a coveringfor said head formedfrom plastic material and having portions extending laterally betweenthe base and return bent flanges of the strip, and trim fabricsextending over the return bent flanges of the strip and provided uponopposite sides of the covering with inturned edge portions anchored be:tween the laterally extending portions of the covering and the returnbent flanges of the strip.

2 In a trim structure, a foundation member, a strip having a base onsaid member and having open return'bent flanges at opposite longitudinaledges thereof, a raised bead on the base between the flanges having anexposed outer portion formed from plastic material, said bead havinglateral flanges between the base and flanges of the strip, trim fabricsextending over said flanges and having return bent edge portionsextending between the flanges of the bead and the flanges of the strip,and fastening elements for the strip disposed beneath and concealed bythe trim fabrics and engaging the foundation member.

3. In a trim structure, an anchorage strip hav ing a base provided atopposite side edges thereof with open return bent flanges and providedat approximately the longitudinal median line thereof between saidflanges with a raised bead,

said bead and base having a covering formed from plastic material, trimfabrics extending over the return bent flanges toward the bead andhaving inturned edge portions extending between the return bent flangesof and the covering for the base of said strip, a supportfor the strip,and means beneath and concealed by the fabrics for securing the same andsaid strip to said support, including means extending through the returnbent flanges and base of said strip.

4. In a trim structure, a metal strip having a base provided at oppositeside edges thereof with open return bent flanges and provided betweensaid flanges with a raised bead, said bead and base heaving'a coveringformed from plastic material, trim fabrics extending over the returnbent flanges toward the bead and having inturned edge portions extendingbetween the return bent flanges of and the covering for the base of saidstrip, a support for the strip, and means beneath and concealed by thefabrics for securing the same and said strip to said support, includingfasteners engaging the return bent flanges and base of said strip andthe intermediate inturned edge portions of said fabrics.

5. In a trim structure, a'foundation member, a metal strip having a baseanchored on said member and provided at opposite longitudinal edgesthereof with open return bent flanges, said base being provided betweensaid return bent flanges with a raised bead, a covering for said beadhaving lateral flanges between the base and return bent flanges of saidstrip, and trim fabrics extending over said return bent flanges andhaving inturned edge portions clamped between the flanges of thecovering and the return bent flanges of said strip.

6. In a trim structure, afoundation member, a strip having a baseanchored on said member and provided with opposed open return bentflanges, said base being provided between said opposed return bentflanges with a raised, bead, a covering for said bead having lateralflanges between the base and return bent flanges of said strip, and trimfabrics extending over said return bent flanges and having inturned edgeportions clamped between the flanges of the covering and the return bentflanges of said strip.

7. In a trim structure, a foundation member, a metal strip having a baseon said member and provided at'opposit'e longitudinal edges thereof withopen return bent flanges, saidbase being provided between said returnbent flanges with a raised bead, a covering for said bead having lateralflanges between the base and return bent flanges of said strip, trimfabrics extending over said return bent flanges and having inturned edgeportions between the flanges of the covering and the return bent flangesof said strip, and means beneath and concealed by the trim fabricsconnecting the inturned edge portions thereof and the flangesrespectively of the strip and covering to said foundation member,whereby the inturned edge portions of the fabrics are anchored betweenthe flanges of the strip and the flanges of the covering.

8. In a trim structure, a foundation member, a strip having a base onsaid member and provided with opposed open return bent flanges, saidbase being provided between said opposed return bent flanges with araised bead, a covering for said bead having lateral flanges between thebase and return bent flanges of said strip, trim fabrics extending oversaid return bent flanges and having inturned edge portions between theflanges of the covering and return bent flanges of said strip, and meansconnecting the inturned edge portions of said fabrics and the flangesrespectively of the strip and covering to said foundation member,whereby the inturned edge portions of the fabrics are anchored betweenthe flanges of the strip and the flanges of the covering.

9. In a trim structure, a foundation member, a strip having a base onsaid member and provided with opposed open return bent flanges, saidbase being provided between said opposed return bent flanges with araised head, a covering for said bead having lateral flanges between the,base and return bent flanges of saidstrip, :trim fabrics extending oversaid return bent flanges and having inturned edge portionsbetween theflanges of the covering and the return bent flanges of said strip, meansconnecting the inturned edge portions of said fabrics and the flangesrespectively of the strip and covering to said foundation member, andmeans cooperating with the return bent flanges of the strip for holdingthe inturned edge portions of the fabrics against displacement.

EDWARD R. DETRICK.

